Vote

No track and field metaphors this time. No associating this political race to an athletic competition. No correlation to a finish line. Just one simple word: Vote.

Yes, I know -- we all know --  the historic importance, the issues of race, the broken economy, the invasion -- oh I mean war in Iraq -- and Joe the opportunist. We've lived it all: the debates, the polls, the blogs, the news, the opinions. We have become so informed and so in tuned to every facet of this election, that the very process has taken a life of its own. Is there anything left to discuss that has not already been said?

Tomorrow morning there will be tears of joy and tears of defeat. Some will be dancing while others will be scratching their heads wondering what happened. But as reality sinks in, one thing is certain: this political battle has left us all with some sort of emotional scratch -- some large, some small, but we all have one. And as the smoke clears and we begin to put things back together, we should all take a moment to (at least) reflect on the turbulent 22 months that consumed and defined us, not merely as individuals but as a nation.

There are some things that have become clear about this nation in these last weeks and days. The presidency is the last vestige of power that many white American men held sacred. Thus, the anger at the Republican rallies and snide undertones does not come from a place of pure racial hatred, but of mere disbelief. The very idea of a black man as president is simply unfathomable to some. They kept blacks in chains and we broke free. They kept blacks uneducated, now we have phD's. They denied us the right to vote, and now we may become president.

It now seems that most of America does not feel this way, and they may be ready for an Obama presidency. But for some -- those angry few at rallies and even some TV and radio hosts -- an Obama victory spells the end of a long road that started with our founding fathers. This will open the door for others to follow: anyone can be president!

Just last week, I met a 6-year-old African American boy. He was bright, energetic, and loved school, and it occurred to me that he will grow up where the idea of a black president is not unthinkable. Imagine what life will be like for him and those of his generation. They will see a completely different America than many of us (including myself) saw when we were 6 years old.

But that different America, this new America, lies on the fragile foundation of our antiquated voting process. Why do we allow each state to manage its voting procedures differently, and why is it so hard to get it right? I never have a problem at an ATM, and I get a paper receipt and they take my picture to prove I was there. Did we not learn anything from 2000 and 2004 that our presidential elections should use a standard nationwide system?

In this booming age of technology, we're still using antiquated methods of voting. Makes you wonder if the GOP is gearing up for another Florida or Ohio. And they have the nerve to talk about ACORN and Obama's fundraising. They certainly cannot depend on the strength of their candidate to assure victory with McCain resorting to baseless acts of desperation, looking old and worn out, and Palin being called a "diva" by her own campaign officials. And by the way, who cares about Bill Ayers and Rashid Khalidi. We just want to get a loan. 

The entire Republican Party is unraveling before our eyes. Just a few months ago, many were calling for Hillary's head, to stop her from destroying the Democratic Party. Well look who's falling apart now. And look who's standing with Senator Obama on the campaign trail.

But we cannot take this too lightly. We've come too far. And to ensure that there are more blue states than red tonight, to ensure that "The Day After" will be one of joy and a new chapter for America, we all must do one thing...

Vote.